MARITIME MONDAYS • CRUISE NEWS
CRUISE NEWS
The latest cruise news, updates and stories from around the cruise world.
THIS WEEK IN CRUISING
New ships are taking shape, onboard experiences are changing, and real people are still at the center of the stories that matter. Here is the cruise week without the noise.
THE WEEK IN 60 SECONDS
- Carnival opened reservations for Carnival Tropicale, its newest Excel-class ship, sailing from Galveston beginning in 2028.
- MSC revealed five new bar and lounge concepts for MSC World Asia ahead of the ship’s December debut.
- A passenger in medical distress was airlifted from a cruise ship off British Columbia in a coordinated pre-dawn rescue.
Got a minute? You’re caught up. Have five? Keep going.
THE BIG STORIES
Carnival Tropicale Is Open for Booking
Carnival has opened reservations for Carnival Tropicale, the newest and final Excel-class ship. The ship is scheduled to sail from Galveston beginning in April 2028 with four-, five-, six- and eight-day itineraries.
Why we’re watching: Galveston keeps becoming a bigger cruise gateway, giving Gulf Coast and Southeast cruisers another major drive-to option.
MSC World Asia Adds Five New Bar and Lounge Concepts
MSC World Asia will debut with five new concepts among more than 40 bars, lounges and restaurants: Clubhouse and Soda Bar, Sky Box Bar, The Terraces Bar & Lounge, Coral Cove Bar and Pan Asian Bar. The ship begins seven-night Mediterranean itineraries December 4.
Why we’re watching: These are not just more venues. The mix ranges from family-friendly custom sodas to wine, sports and Asian-inspired cocktails, giving the newest World Class ship a broader personality.
AROUND THE CRUISE WORLD
Serenade of the Seas Returned to Service After a Canceled Alaska Sailing
Royal Caribbean’s August 30 Alaska sailing was ultimately canceled after guests had boarded because maintenance issues could not be resolved. The line offered refunds and future cruise credit, and the ship returned to service September 6.
Carnival Freedom Is in Drydock
Carnival Freedom entered drydock in Marseille for routine maintenance, inspections and upkeep. The work is also expected to restore the ship’s traditional whale-tail funnel after the 2024 fire damage.
A Sprinkler Malfunction Soaked Anthem of the Seas’ Royal Esplanade
A reported sprinkler malfunction sent water across the Royal Esplanade during Anthem of the Seas’ September 10 sailing. Reports indicated the casino closed for the night, while most of the ship continued operating normally.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT
The cover of Maritime Mondays says it plainly this week: every crew member has a name. Ships make the itinerary possible, but people make the memories. Sometimes the Human Element also means the professionals who answer the call when something goes wrong.
RCAF Crew Airlifts Passenger in Medical Distress
A Royal Canadian Air Force search-and-rescue team evacuated a passenger from a cruise ship roughly 200 kilometres northwest of Port Hardy before dawn Saturday. Rescue technicians were lowered to the vessel, and the patient, a companion and medical personnel were flown to Comox for transfer to hospital care.
WHAT DID A CREW MEMBER DO THAT YOU STILL REMEMBER?
This week Maritime Mondays is about the people behind the memories. Tell us about a cabin steward, server, bartender, entertainer or other crew member who made your cruise better.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
Turn back a few pages. Previous Cruise News editions stay aboard.
THE TERRY CRUISES COMMUNITY
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